Freeman e



(No Model.) Q

. P. E. N'UTTING.

RACK.

Patented Mar. 29., 1892.

NITED STATEs "ATENT OFFICE.

FREEMAN E. NUTTING,'OF FLORENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters-Patent No. 471,885, dated March 29, 1892.

Application filed January 4, 1392. Serial No. 416,924. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known thatI, FREEMAN E. NUTTING, of Florence, in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Racks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. My invention relates to an improvement in racks, the object being to provide a simple and inexpensive device adapted to grasp and securely hold articles, such as pens, pencils, tickets, memoranda, fabrics, and other articles of like nature, and which will admit of the article being readily inserted and removed without danger of injury thereto.

A further object is to provide a device which will admit of its being quickly attached to a desk or other object, as desired.

Vith these ends in View my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view of my invention, and Fig. 2 is a section of the same. I

A represents a strip of sheet metal corrugated transversely and bent in serpentine form, as shown in the drawings. Each fold of the sheet-metal strip A is provided centrally with an opening or hole Z), through which passes a .rod B. The passage of this rod centrally through the sheet-metal strip forms two sets or series of jaws, all of which are designed for and capable of use at the same time. To the outer end of rod B is secured a knob O, which latter can be ornamented in any desired manner, while the other or opposite endis screw-threaded. A washer d rests against the inner end of the metal stripA and is held against displacement by. means of the nut or other fastening device e, which latter is secured to the rod B a slight distance in the rear of the screw-threads.

This washer and the knob or handle prevent forcibly withdrawing the objectvheld by the aws.

By bending the metal strip in serpentine form and passing the rod B centrally through each fold of the metal strip both sides of the rack thus formed are identical in construction and can be used for holding pens, pencils, and many other articles of merchandise. It will also be seen that by corrugating the metal strip A, as shown, greater elasticity is imparted to the rack and the articles grasped Will be more firmly held against displacement than has heretofore been accomplished with racks made of a flat piece of sheet metal.

The size of my device can be varied to suit the demands of the trade and can also be ornamented in numerous ways, so that it will present a neat and attractive appearance, and when it is desired to attach the rack to a desk, wall, or other furniture the screw end of the rod is secured in the desired place. The rack is particularly well adapted for holding pens or pencils; but it will be observed that the rack is well adapted for displaying articles of merchandise, such as gloves, handkerchiefs, laces, 85c. 7

It is evident that numerous slight changes in the constructive details ofmy device might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I would have it understood thatI do not wish to confine myself to the exact form of construction shown and described, but consider myself at liberty to make such slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by'Letters Patent, is-

1. A rack for supporting pens, pencils, and the like, comprising a metal strip folded in serpentine folds and a rod passed loosely through these folds a suitable distance from the ends, so that spaceis left on each side of the rod for the support of the article to be held, substantially as set forth.

2. As an article of manufacture, a rack for supporting pens, pencils, and the like, comprising a corrugated strip of metal folded back and forth, a rod passing loosely through each fold a sufficient distance from each end thereof to leave a support on each side for the article to be held, and means for preventing the elongation of the strip beyond a certain point, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a metal strip bent in serpentine form, of a rod passing through the bent strip and provided at one end with aknob and atits other end with screw-th reads, substantially as set forth.

4. The eombination,with aeorrugated metal strip bent in serpentine form, forming a series of spring-jaws, of a rod passing through said 

